Adjustable cleanout cover

ABSTRACT

A cover assembly for a cleanout pipe and plug projecting outwardly beyond an upright wall surface, including a cap having a cylindrical wall and a telescopingly received cylindrical sleeve longer than the cylindrical wall of the cap, and threaded fastening means securing the cap to the plug of the pipe concentrically for compression of the sleeve against the wall surface. The sleeve is also preferably provided with annular scores to form separable sleeve sections for varying the effective length of the sleeve.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard H. Wright, Jr.

- Rte; 1, Packinghouse Road, Kingsport,

Tenn. 37660 [211 App]. No. 44,984 [22] Filed June 10, 1970 [45] PatentedNov. 16, 1971 [54] ADJUSTABLE CLEANOUT COVER 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.[52] US. Cl 138/89, 138/92 [51] Int. Cl .i F161 55/10 [50] Field ofSearch 138/89, 92,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1253.806 l/1918 Frazer138/89 1,592,382 7/1926 Nunn 138/89 2,202,147 5/1940 Gerriets. 138/96 X2.679.155 5/1954 Zinn 138/89 X 3,148,708 9/1964 Panclla 138/89 PrimaryExaminer-Herbert F Ross Attorney-Harrington A. Lackey ABSTRACT: A coverassembly for a cleanout pipe and plug projecting outwardly beyond anupright wall surface. including a cap having a cylindrical wall and atclescopingly received cylindrical sleeve longer than the cylindricalwall of the cap, and threaded fastening means securing the cap to theplug of the pipe concentrically for compression of the sleeve againstthe wall surface. The sleeve is also preferably provided with annularscores to form separable sleeve sections for varying the effectivelength of the sleeve.

PATENTEDNUV 16 I971 INVENTOR RKIHARD H. WRIGHT, JR.

ADJUSTABLE CLEANOUT COVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a cover assembly for a cleanout pipe, and more particularlyto an adjustable cover assembly for a projecting cleanout pipe.

Even the most skillful plumbers and plumbing contractors have difficultyin maintaining the outlet ends of cleanout pipes inside the plane of, oreven projecting a uniform distance outside of the plane of, an exteriorwall surface in the construction of a building. Sometimes the pluggedend of the cleanout pipe is very close to the plane of the wall surface,and sometimes it projects outwardly from the wall some distance, so thatthe amount of projection usually always varies from one building toanother.

Although various types of fixed covers have been provided for theplugged end of cleanout pipes, nevertheless the dimensions of the covernever conform to the length of pipe projection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide an adjustable cover assembly for the plugged end of a cleanoutpipe, which is adapted to accommodate cleanout pipes having varyingprojections from the exterior wall.

The cleanout cover assembly made in accordance with this invention isbasically a two-piece unit, including a cap having a cylindrical wall,one end closed and the other end open, and a cylindrical sleeve ofslightly less diameter and of greater length than the cylindrical wallof the cap. The assembly also includes securing means for holding thecap concentrically to the cleanout plug. Thus, the cylindrical sleevetelescopingly received within the cap may be slidably adjusted withinthe limits of the length of the cylindrical wall of the cap to abutagainst the wall surface around the pipe and accommodate cleanout pipesprojecting at varying distances, within limits.

The cleanout cover assembly made in accordance with this invention alsocontemplates a sleeve provided with annular scores spaced atpredetermined intervals, preferably less than the length of thecylindrical wall of the cap so that excessive sections may be easilyseparated from the desired remaining lengths of sleeve sections toaccommodate a pipe projecting a predetermined distance from the wallsurface. Any amount of projected distances may be accommodated byrelative movements of the sleeve within the annular wall of the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded viewof the cover assembly made in accordance with this invention, in whichthe sleeve and cap are scored; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the cover assembly inoperative position upon a cleanout pipe projecting from a wall surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings inmore detail, FIG. 2 discloses a section of a brick wall having anexterior vertical surface 11 and a cleanout opening 12 therethrough.

Extending outwardly through the cleanout opening 12 is a typicalcleanout pipe 13 having a bell end [4 closed by a v cleanout plug 15. Asshown in FIG. 2, the bell end 14 of the cleanout pipe is projecting aconsiderable distance outward beyond the exterior surface 11 of the wall10.

The cleanout cover assembly 17 made in accordance with this inventionincludes a cap 18 having a cylindrical wall 19 and one end wall 20. Theopposite end of the cap 18 is open.

The cover assembly 17 also includes a cylindrical sleeve 22 of adiameter slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical wall 18 topermit telescoping reception of the sleeve 22 within the open end of thecap 18. The diameter of the sleeve 22 is also greater than the largestdiameter of the pipe 13, which would be the bell l4, and preferablygreater than the diameter of the cleanout opening 12.

A recessed bolthole 24 is formed in the center of the top wall 20 of thecap 18 through which a threaded bolt 25 is adapted to be extended, asdisclosed in FIG. 2. The threaded bolt 25 is adapted to threadedlyengage a tapped hole 26 in the center of the cleanout plug 15. Somecleanout plugs are already provided with these tapped holes; others arenot. Accordingly, for those plugs which do not have the holes, the holesmust be tapped.

The cylindrical sleeve 22 is provided with axially spaced annular scores28 for forming separable sleeve sections 30. Although only three scores28 have been disclosed in FIG. I, nevertheless the entire length of thesleeve 22 may be provided with additional scores 28. By separating oneor more sleeve sections 30 at the corresponding scores 28, a sleeve 22of predetermined length may be acquired for use in the cover assembly17, depending upon the amount that the pipe 13 projects beyond the wallsurface 11.

If desired, the cylindrical wall 19 of the cap 18 may also be providedwith one or more annular scores 31 to form cap wall sections 32, whichalso may be separable from the remaining portions of cap wall 19 to varythe length of the cap 18.

In the preferred operation of the invention, separable sections 30 areremoved from the remaining portion of the sleeve 22 until the length ofthe sleeve 22 is slightly greater than the distance the plug 15 projectsoutwardly beyond the exterior wall surface 11. The sleeve 22 is thentelescopingly fitted over the cleanout pipe 13 until its end abutssubstantially flush against the exterior wall surface 11 surrounding theopening 12. The cap 18 is then telescopingly fitted over the exposed endof the sleeve 22 until the exterior end of the sleeve abuts against theshoulder 34 formed by the inner section of the cylindrical wall 19 andthe end wall 20, as best disclosed in FIG. 2.

The bolt 25 is inserted through the bolthole 24 in the end wall 20 tothreadedly engage the tapped hole 26 in the plug 15. The bolt 25 is thentightened until the sleeve 22 is held in compression between the cap 18and the wall surface I]. If the cleanout pipe 13 is not exactlyperpendicular to the exterior wall surface 11, a slightly angular fitmay be provided between the cylindrical wall 19 of the cap 18 and thesleeve 22, depending upon the tolerance between the wall 19 and thesleeve 22, so that the end of the sleeve 22 may abut substantially flushagainst the wall surface 11.

If a cover assembly 17 is desired to fit as closely to the plug 15 aspossible without any wasted space, the sleeve 22 could be adapted toslip fit snugly within the cylindrical wall I9 so that the cap 18 can beadjusted axially at any position relative to the sleeve 22, within thelength of the cylindrical cap wall 19. Thus, in the example disclosed inFIG. 2, the sleeve section 30 adjacent the exterior wall 11 could beseparated at the score line 28 and the rest of the sleeve 22 moved downinto engagement with the wall 11, so that the cap 18 could be movedslightly closer to the plug 15. However, in this case. the outer end ofthe sleeve 22 would not abut against the shoulder 34, but would be heldin compression against the exterior wall surface 11 solely by thefrictional fit between it and the cylindrical cap wall 19.

The intervals between the score lines 28 may be of any desireddimensions, and although preferably uniform, may be of differentintervals. Typical lengths for sleeve sections 30 are three-eighths ofan inch each.

The cap wall section 32 may be separated from the remaining wall portion19 whenever desired, for example, when the cap wall section 32 mightabut against the wall surface ll. causing the cap 18 to project too farbeyond a cleanout plug 15, which itself has a relatively smallprojection beyond the wall surface 11.

Thus, a cleanout cover assembly has been provided which will adequatelyconceal the projecting end of the cleanout pipe 13, regardless of theerror incurred in the roughing-in of the plumbing compared with thefinal location of the finished exterior wall surface 11. The projectingend of the cleanout pipe 13 is not only concealed by the cover assembly[7 for esthetic reasons, but also protects the projecting end of thepipe, as well as the cleanout opening 12, from the elements.

What is claimed is:

l. A cover assembly for a cleanout pipe having a plug projecting throughan opening in a wall surface, comprising:

a. a cap having a cylindrical wall, an end wall, and an opposite openend,

b. a cylindrical sleeve of a diameter greater than the cleanout pipe andslightly less than the diameter of said cylindrical wall, so that saidsleeve may be telescopingly received through the open end of said cap,said cylindrical sleeve having axially spaced annular score lines forseparating a portion of said sleeve thereby to cover that portion of thecleanout pipe and plug extending outwardly of the wall surface, and

c. securing means for securing said cap to the plug and on said sleeveand concentrically of the pipe and said sleeve.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which the diameter of saidsleeve is greater than the diameter of the opening, so that when saidsleeve is received in said cap and said cap is secured to said plug,said sleeve is held in compression between said cap and the wall surfaceconcentrically of the pipe.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said annular scores areaxially spaced at predetermined intervals to form sleeve sections, eachsection being separable from the remainder of said sleeve 4. Theinvention according the claim 2 in which said cap comprises at least oneannular score in said cylindrical wall to form cap wall sections, eachcap wall section being separable from the remainder of said cap.

5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a cleanout pipehaving an open end projecting through said opening and beyond said wallsurface, a plug in the open end of said cleanout pipe, said capreceiving said sleeve, and said securing means securing said cap to saidplug so that said sleeve is concentric of said pipe and held incompression against said wall surface.

6. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising a tapped holein the outer end of said plug and coaxially of said pipe, said securingmeans comprising a bolthole in the center of said end wall, and athreaded bolt extending through said bolthole and threadedly engagingsaid tapped hole.

1. A cover assembly for a cleanout pipe having a plug projecting throughan opening in a wall surface, comprising: a. a cap having a cylindricalwall, an end wall, and an opposite open end, b. a cylindrical sleeve ofa diameter greater than the cleanout pipe and slightly less than thediameter of said cylindrical wall, so that said sleeve may betelescopingly received through the open end of said cap, saidcylindrical sleeve having axially spaced annular score lines forseparating a portion of said sleeve thereby to cover that portion of thecleanout pipe and plug extending outwardly of the wall surface, and c.securing means for securing said cap to the plug and on said sleeve andconcentrically of the pipe and said sleeve.
 2. The invention accordingto claim 1 in which the diameter of said sleeve is greater than thediameter of the opening, so that when said sleeve is received in saidcap and said cap is secured to said plug, said sleeve is held incompression between said cap and the wall surface concentrically of thepipe.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said annular scoresare axially spaced at predetermined intervals to form sleeve sections,each section being separable from the remainder of said sleeve.
 4. Theinvention according the claim 2 in which said cap comprises at least oneannular score in said cylindrical wall to form cap wall sections, eachcap wall section being separable from the remainder of said cap.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 1 further comprising a cleanout pipe havingan open end projecting through said opening and beyond said wallsurface, a plug in the open end of said cleanout pipe, said capreceiving said sleeve, and said securing means securing said cap to saidplug so that said sleeve is concentric of said pipe and held incompression against said wall surface.
 6. The invention according toclaim 5 further comprising a tapped hole in the outer end of said plugand coaxially of said pipe, said securing means comprising a bolthole inthe center of said end wall, and a threaded bolt extending through saidbolthole and threadedly engaging said tapped hole.